In the blog's final look back at the Hegarty Family , Togher Historical Association now turns its attention to John Joe after his arrival back home in 1932 ( click here for his War Years ) to The Laurels from America and his life on Pouladuff Road in the intervening years up to the 1970s. Also included will be his historic sporting legacy in Togher and compassion for his former comrade Joe Murphy.
John Joe Hegarty was born on 25th September 1897 in Togher at a house known as The Laurels on Pouladuff Road. He was the 3rd born of four siblings , his brother Patrick and sister Mary - Francis ( Mamie ) being older and his sister Johanna ( Nan ) being the youngest. He attended Togher National School and upon leaving took up full time work in the family business as a Market Gardener with his father Patrick snr. He also qualified as a blacksmith during this time. As mentioned in Part 01 , He along with his two sisters became actively involved in the War of Independence and Civil War. Following his departure to America in 1927 and subsequent return to Ireland in 1932 to take over the running of the gardens , he quickly settled down into normal life. In 1933 , at the A.G.M of the Pouladuff & Bishopstown Coursing Club , formed in 1929 while he was in America , he was elected onto the Committee and would go on to breed many winners , both coursing and track , eventually becoming a Field Marshall.
In 1934 , former comrades of his ; Tom Crofts , Florry O'Donoghue and Liam Deasy founded the Old I.R.A. Comrades Association of which he immediately became a member. A fellow comrade of John Joe's and a future Lord Mayor of Cork City , Pa McGrath was elected as Chairman. Their mission was to promote all things Irish - Language , Sport & Commerce. Also that same year the Government introduced the Service Pension for qualifying ex-Volunteers and the following year in 1935 John Joe successfully applied for his Pension while his sisters waited until 1945.
Life would change for the better in 1936 when his sister Nan introduced him to her best friend Liz Allen ; a Dressmaker from Bandon Road and a Niece of Dave Allen of Doughcloyne Hill. The couple were later married at the Lough Church on 1st June 1937 and went on to have 8 children between 1938 and 1950 : Elizabeth ( Betty ) , Ann , Pauline ,Edward , Eileen , Jack and Jim. Sadly baby Patrick had passed away while still young in 1942.
Liz Hegarty ( nee Allen )
Sadly John Joe's father Patrick passed away the following year on 31st October 1938 and The Laurels was transferred in its entirety to him. The year 1939 saw the start of World War II and the country taking a neutral stance entered a period known as The Emergency. John Joe like all former Old I.R.A. commanders enlisted if required for National Service between 1939 and 1945. Though not on active duty he was part of the Reserve in the event of a possible invasion by the British and/or Germans ; though de-facto Ireland sided with the Allies providing weather reports and allowing U.S. Aircraft to fly over Donegal on their way to Europe. John Joe once more was quite prepared to defend his Country in whatever way he could.
In 1941 , the Government granted the Minister for Defence Oscar
Traynor permission to issue all ex-Volunteers with a Service Medal in
recognition of their sacrifices for Irish freedom. A bar was also
awarded with the medal for those who were deemed to be on active
service and whose lives were in constant danger. John Joe along with his two sisters , Mamie and Nan were
granted the Service Medal with Bar. An amazing achievement of which all the descendents are justifiably still proud of to this day.
When the Emergency ended , life at The Laurels returned to normal and in 1948 , members of the Hegarty , Forde and Fennel families canvassed for a former comrade , Pa McGrath who was duly elected as a Fianna Fail T.D as was a certain Jack Lynch for the first time. He was also a past Lord Mayor of Cork from 1952 to 1955 and a qualified Blacksmith by trade. In this role he featured in a famous photograph welcoming Laurel and Hardy to Cork City in 1953. It should be noted that Pa McGrath was a Juror at the Republican Coroner's Court when Tomas McCurtain was murdered by Crown Forces in 1920. Pa McGrath died in 1956 while still in office as a T.D. and at his funeral , which was one of the biggest the City had ever seen , John Joe Hegarty was chosen to lead the Guard of Honour.
In 1952 , Liz Hegarty , coming from a business background and seeing the future development of Togher and neighbouring Ballyphehane , decided to open a shop attached to The Laurels. This was a successful venture and became the hub of the community but also complimented the gardens where fresh produce was available to the consumer. The shop quickly blossomed into a tobacconist , oil distributor and newsagents. All members of the family were employed in the shop including a cousin from The Cuttings , Ann Sisk. One of the funniest episodes to occur at the shop was the day a lady called for a Christmas tree which John Joe kept on the grounds. Hundreds of these would be delivered to the yard every winter and John Joe would deliver them by horse and cart right up to the late 1960s when he eventually changed to a van. The lady deciding that all of the trees were too tall was asked by John Joe to finish her shopping while he sourced a smaller tree to fit her needs. He then duly cut off the bottom of the tree and stuck it in the ground. Convinced he was about to make a sale , the lady when she returned had decided she wanted the taller tree after all! Liz Hegarty was always anxious that the customers should be looked after and especially at Christmas , when under cover of darkness John Joe and family members would secretly drop off trees in the gardens of people who couldn't afford them.
and daughter Ann ( bottom left ) & Carmel , Jack's wife ( bottom right )
In 1960 , a memorial plaque was erected on the house of 1920s hunger striker Joe Murphy in which former comrades of " H " Company attended. John Joe Hegarty , joined by his whole family , lead the colour party who all wore hats and faced the house as a mark of respect. In attendance was Sean O'Hegarty ( former Officer Commanding ) , Florrie O'Donoughue ( Intelligence officer ) and Michael Murphy and Tom Croft ( leading Officers in the Brigade ). General Tom Barry of the famous West Cork Flying Column also made an appearance to show his support. John Joe's youngest son , Jim , can be seen in the photo ( see below ) perched on the right pillar.
In 1963 , a Committee was set up to erect a memorial at the Republican Plot in St. Finbarr's cemetery and the meetings were held at The Laurels in which plans were drawn up. Disaster struck on the morning of the unveiling in which a bomb exploded killing one and injuring another. It has never been ascertained whether the explosion was meant to damage the Memorial or kill Eamon DeValera who was Guest of Honour on the day. Throughout the 1960s John Joe would canvas on behalf of his sister Mamie's son Paddy Forde who was eventually elected as a T.D. in 1969 (sadly passing away in 1972 ).
In 1970 , John Joe Hegarty attended a 50th Commemoration ( which he helped organize ) in honour of Joe Murphy. A lone Piper from the Cork Volunteers Pipe Band played the lament. John Joe's passion for sport extended to a lifetime support of the Barrs and Cork in which he would travel by train ( always with a member of his family ) to see the Munster and All-Ireland championships. Jim recalls how his father was extremely familiar with the railway lines from his War of Independence days. His friendship with the Manning family saw him secure grounds for his beloved Barrs in 1962 with another former comrade Conn Neenan providing financial support to make Togher the home of the Barrs. His son Jack acted as a linesman on the day of the inaugural match.
March 1971 saw the 50th Anniversary of the end of the War of Independence and the Government marked this by issuing all surviving Volunteers with a medal. John Joe was awarded the 1971 Survivors Medal ; sadly his two sisters had by then passed away and were therefore not eligible. In March 1973 , John Joe was invited to City Hall for the conferring of the Freedom of the City on President DeValera. Only a few short months later on the 6th June 1973 while working in the gardens , John Joe became ill and passed away. He was given a full military funeral at St. Joseph's cemetery where the family in line with other market gardeners had purchased plots many years previously. This explains why his body is not interred in the Republican Plot in St. Finbarr's Cemetery. A Guard of Honour from Collins Barracks fired a volley of shots over the grave. John Joe's youngest son , Jim , then 23 , went to collect the shells. The Officer in charge of the firing party cautioned that he had to account for all empty cartridges back at base. A voice from the crowd piped up : " Leave the lad alone , sure it's his Father! " It was Tom Barry! The shells remain with the family to this day.
St. Joseph's Cemetery
In 1977 , Liz Hegarty decided to sell The Laurels and moved to Mercier Park in Turner's Cross. Many old neighbours and customers came to wish her well with all of them settling their arrears out of respect for the family which had served them so well in the past. The Hegarty's association with The Laurels and Togher after over two Centuries had finally come to an end. Sadly Liz passed away on 31st October 1987.
by Cathal McSwiney Brugha on behalf of John Joe Hegarty
Cathal McSwiney Brugha delivers talk on
John Joe Hegarty ( Jim Hegarty in audience )
outside T.W. Murray
Joe Murphy Centenary
Togher Historical Association would like to thank most sincerely Jim Hegarty for his invaluable contributions to this article without which it would not have been possible. It also cannot be overstated just how much Togher and the broader community owes to families such as the Hegarty's who sacrificed everything from a very early age to secure Irish freedom and who consistently gave for the rest of their lives. John Joe Hegarty was a quite unassuming man who never boasted of his exploits but rather continually enriched his community over the course of his entire life.
Lt. Section Commander/Intelligence Officer
1971 Survivor's Medal
Emergency 1939 ~ 1945
d.1973 ~ R.I.P.
